Nov. 16, 2006

Blue Devils Capture First ACC Title Since 1994 With 3-0 Sweep Over Virginia

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - After finishing one win shy of a share of the ACC title last season, the Duke volleyball team captured its first league championship since 1994 on Thursday with a 3-0 (30-23, 33-31, 30-23) sweep over second-place Virginia at Memorial Gym. With the win, the Blue Devils improve to 25-3 overall and 18-1 in the ACC while the Cavaliers fall to 21-7 and 14-5, respectively.

The ACC title is the first for Duke head coach Jolene Nagel, who is in her eighth season at the helm, and the eighth championship in Blue Devil history. Duke won back-to-back-to-back ACC titles from 1984-86 before capturing four straight league crowns from 1991-94. Duke's eight volleyball ACC titles are the second highest total in league history. This is the second regular season title for Nagel but the first overall championship. Nagel and the Blue Devils won a regular season ACC title in 2001 but did not claim the tournament championship, which is what determined the league champion until last season when the tournament became defunct.

With the win, Duke claimed its 104th ACC Championship in school history and second of the fall. It is the 44th ACC Championship in a women's sport, second most in league history and the 42nd conference title under current Director of Athletics Joe Alleva.

Duke's 18 ACC victories set a new school record and it ties the ACC mark set by North Carolina and Maryland a year ago. The 25 overall wins are a new high under Nagel, who had won 24 matches twice before, and the most since 1993, when the Blue Devils went 30-3. The 25 wins also rank tied for sixth most in school history.

North Carolina Shines In Sweep Of Florida State

CHAPEL HILL --- Meg Eckert had a career-high seven service aces and North Carolina swept Florida State, 30-27, 30-26, 34-32, Thursday night at Carmichael Auditorium. Megan Owens added a double-double (13 kills, 12 digs) for the Tar Heels, while Jackie BonSalle led the Seminoles with a match-high 14 kills.

Carolina (9-19, 7-12 Atlantic Coast Conference) opened game one with a 7-0 run, as the Tar Heels controlled the run of play with superior serving and passing. FSU (17-11, 11-7 ACC) got three points back after a timeout, but UNC quickly pushed its lead out to 10 at 14-4. After a second timeout, the Seminoles began their steady push to erase the deficit.

The `Noles had made up five points before Carolina used its first timeout at 19-14. The Tar Heel lead was still four at 22-18 when head coach Joe Sagula called a second and final timeout. But behind the hitting of BonSalle, who had a game-high six kills in the frame, Florida State would eventually tie the score at 25. UNC would respond with three straight, however, capped by Eckert's fourth ace of the game. The teams traded side outs before Heather Brooks put down the game-winner to end it, 30-27. The service-receive game proved to be the difference, as Carolina logged four aces and no service errors and kept the Seminoles out of rhythm for much of the frame.